Frequently Asked Questions
Are you new to coaching? Not sure if it's for you? Please see below for some of the most common questions and answers about leadership and life coaching- from my perspective.
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The short:
A coach is someone who is committed to your victory and so comes alongside you to offer support and is even willing to risk your disapproval in order to see you win. Similarly, in “the game of life,” we can benefit from a trained coach to help us tap into our deepest learning and support our goals and dreams.
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The long:
A coach is a professional who supports, empowers, and challenges individuals, teams, or organizations to achieve their desired goals and visions by unlocking their potential and maximizing their performance.
My approach is to work together with my coachee(s) as partners in a thought-provoking and creative process. At the heart, it's an empowering experience that acknowledges everyone as naturally creative, resourceful, and whole. The role of the coach's is to tap into the a client's inherent capabilities rather than providing them with solutions or advice. You'll hear
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The co-active coaching approach can be explained as a collaborative and empowering coaching style where the coach and the client work as partners. It focuses on:
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Client-Centered: Putting the client's goals and aspirations at the center of the coaching process.
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Co-Equal Partnership: Treating the coach and the client as equals, with the coach providing support and guidance while the client takes the lead.
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Empowerment: Encouraging the client to discover their own solutions and tap into their potential.
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Action-Oriented: Balancing self-discovery with taking concrete steps towards achieving desired outcomes.
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Whole-Person Approach: Acknowledging the client's personal and professional aspects as interconnected.
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Transformative: Aims to bring about positive and sustainable changes in the client's life.
In summary, Co-active coaching is about empowering clients to explore, grow, and achieve their goals through a collaborative and client-focused approach.
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People often participate and seek out a coach because they want things to be different - whether that is a general change or an important goal to reach. Some examples of wants are:
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Start a business
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Make a leap up a career ladder
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Be a better manager
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Have a healthier body
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Have more balance
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Make a life change
Overall people come to coaching because they want more out of life: more peace of mind, more security, more impact in their work. And sometimes, they want less: less stress, less confusion, less financial pressure. In general, they come to coaching because because they want a better quality of life - more fulfilment, more balance- or a differente process for accomplishing their desires.
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Focus on the Present and Future:
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Coaching: Primarily focus on the client's present and future goals. The emphasis is on identifying obstacles, creating action plans, and working towards achieving desired outcomes.
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Therapy: Often involves delving into the client's past experiences and emotions to understand and heal psychological issues or traumas. While therapy can address current challenges, its primary focus is on resolving past issues and improving mental and emotional well-being.
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Nature of the Relationship:
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Coaching: A collaborative partnership between the coach and the client. The coach empowers the client to take charge of their life and provides support and accountability.
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Therapy: A healing relationship. Therapists are trained to provide a safe and supportive space for clients to explore their emotions and work through mental health concerns.
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Goal-Oriented vs. Healing-Oriented:
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Coaching: Help clients set specific and measurable goals, and they support clients in taking action to achieve those goals. The focus is on personal and professional development.
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Therapy: More open-ended and can continue as long as needed to address underlying psychological issues and promote healing and growth.
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Credentials and Training:
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Coaching: The coaching industry is not as regulated as therapy, and there is a wide range of coach training programs available. However, many professional coaches pursue certification through reputable coaching organizations.
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Therapy: Therapists typically hold advanced degrees in psychology, counseling, or social work and must be licensed to practice therapy.
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It's essential to recognize that while coaching and therapy have distinct differences, they can also complement each other in certain situations. Some clients may benefit from both coaching and therapy at different stages of their personal or professional journeys, depending on their specific needs and objectives.